The Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) welcomes the news that the Driving Standards Agency and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) are to merge into a single agency which will bring together their testing and standards services.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that a single agency will bring together the testing and standards services that are currently provided by the VOSA and the DSA. These services will be delivered by the two agencies under a single chief executive and transitional board from July this year.  

Sue Robinson, RMI director said “The RMI responded to the Motoring Services Strategy consultation and called on the DfT to rationalise its four key agencies. 

“The move to bring VOSA and DSA under one single agency will avoid duplication of duties and make the agencies more efficient.

“Bringing the agencies together should help to simplify processes for businesses as well as keep fees down.

“The RMI await the outcome of the Motoring Services Strategy and hope that the DfT will take on board our other recommendations, specifically those surrounding an expansion of Authorised Testing Facilities (ATF) testing.

“The RMI also believe that an expansion of online services provided by the DfT agencies would improve efficiency and abolition of tax discs in vehicles.”